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Donald Trump in hot water for team picks

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Donald Trump in hot water for team picks

As Donald Trump nears January 20, the day he becomes sworn-in U.S. President, the real estate mogul is in hot water for his latest team’s picks.

Just recently Trump appointed his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to be his senior adviser when he becomes the new U.S. President. Kushner, 35, started out as a businessman but eventually became a political strategist and played a key role in his father-in-law’s presidential campaign.

Trump’s appointment of his son-in-law is set to test the limit of federal anti-nepotism rules. The news comes a day before Trump’s Wednesday news conference, where the U.S. President-elect is expected to answer questions about his team.

According to Kushner’s attorney Jamie Gorelick, the political strategist would resign from all of his management positions at his companies if he’s appointed Trump’s senior advisor.

Gorelick told CNN that Kushner would also divest from “a significant number” of his assets in order to comply with America’s government rules. Another official from Trump’s team later on Monday told reporters that Kushner wouldn’t take a salary when he becomes a senior advisor to the President.

Leaders of the Democrats party issued a statement within hours of Trump’s son-in-law’s appointment calling on to check if the latest addition to Trump’s team complies with the anti-nepotism statute.

Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, meanwhile, is expected to simply retain the title of ‘first daughter’ without entering her father’s team in any official staff title, according to sources close to the transition team.

In other news, Trump is also under fire for his pick of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to be the new attorney general. Sessions is expected to be grilled by US Senators about his past record on civil rights.

US senators, particularly Democrats, are also expected to ask him uncomfortable questions about his rather tough immigration stance. However, the Democrats won’t be able to block Sessions’ nomination because Republicans control the majority of the Senate as well as Congress.

Democrats are urging other Republicans to block Sessions’ nomination explaining that the attorney general has serious responsibilities. The attorney general leads the US justice department and is the main adviser to the US President on legal issues.

All the President’s Cabinet nominations have to go through a vote in the Senate, where they can be either rejected or approved by a majority. However, there’s a low chance the Democrats could reject Sessions’ appointment as Republicans hold majority of the Senate.

Cabinet’s appointments cannot be confirmed until after Trump officially enters the White House on January 20.